Kenneth John Menkhaus

Through the example of Somalia, examines how non-state actors adapt to state collapse and implications of that on peace building, political development, and counter-terrorism. The author explores the events in Somalia since 1995, looking at how the continued instability has affected those in Somaliland, Southern Somalia, neighboring nations, and Western governments. Observing that the lack of stability has hindered both state formation and foreign terrorists, the author argues that the current situation may be more of a hindrance to terrorism than would a centralized, corrupt government. He also asserts that Western political assumptions regarding politics in general and Somalia in particular have and will continue to lead to misguided reconstruction programs. However, as some Western governments view state collapse as a security threat and nation-building as unrealistic, they are adopting a strategy of containment rather than resolution. The author argues that rather than embracing such an inevitably ineffective strategy, Western powers should instead develop relations with local and regional authorities, thus viewing Somalia on its own terms.… (més)